There are moments we never forget- like when someone let go of the back of our bike and we rode off on our own for the very first time.

For Michael Kelly, President & Chief Wealth Strategist + Principal, it started with a blue Huffy and the moment his dad let go. Then came the BMX movie Rad, a new Mongoose bike, and plenty of attempts to recreate what he saw on screen. Like a lot of kids, a bike gave him a bigger world to explore.

 

“I grew up with a single mom and we didn’t have a lot, so helping kids see what’s possible really matters to me. A kid learns to ride a bike, but they’re also learning, I can do this. I can figure this out. And maybe that becomes, What else can I do? That’s pretty powerful. It’s why Cycle Oregon’s work really spoke to me—and why Empirical wanted to be part of First Ride, Big Dreams.”

At Empirical Wealth Management, Michael and his colleagues help people think about their financial lives—including how their charitable giving can reflect what matters most to them.

“We believe your giving should reflect what you value. And once you know what you care about, the next question is, If I want to give, how do I do it most effectively?”

Sometimes that means looking at a donor-advised fund, appreciated securities or another charitable giving strategy. But for Michael, the strategy comes after something much more personal: knowing what matters to you.

He approaches his own giving that way, too. Michael made his personal gift to Cycle Oregon through his donor-advised fund, while Empirical also stepped forward as Presenting Sponsor of First Ride, Big Dreams.

 

“For us, this was a chance to put that belief into action. Every kid should have experiences that bring joy, open up their world and let them just be a kid.”

On October 14, 2026, First Ride, Big Dreams gives all of us a chance to put something we value into action. Through the paddle raise, auction or a gift to Cycle Oregon, we can help more kids experience their own first ride—and everything that can come after it.